Accused of stealing savings by deception

A MAN charged with stealing by false pretence is in court for allegedly falsifying the identity of another man to claim his Nasfund savings of K14,600.
Committal Court Magistrate Paul Puri Nii read the charge to Belden Koron, 32, from Lufa, Eastern Highlands and adjourned his case to May 9 for further mention.
Complainant David Mugarenang was a driver for Black Swan International company and upon his resignation, he had K14,600 in his Nasfund account.
On Feb 20 last year, Mugarenang met Koron and other former security officers for Guard Dog.
They explained to Mugarenang that Koron was a Nasfund officer who helped people get their savings quickly.
Mugarenang spoke with Koron and he agreed to help withdraw his (Mugarenang) money.
Mugarenang then gave his Nasfund application forms to Koron.
Mugarenang also gave Koron his bank account details in order to facilitate the transfer of his money as well as signing a state declaration allowing Koron to use his account.
On June 12, last year, Mugarenang’s Nasfund money of K14,600 was deposited into Koron’s personal account.
Koron ignored Mugarenang and used the money without his consent and kept lying to him that the money was yet to be deposited into his account.
Mugarenang went to the Nasfund office and confirmed that his money had already been paid to Koron’s bank account.
When Koron knew that Mugarenang had visited the Nasfund office, he admitted to him that he got K14,600 of his Nasfund money and used it. Only K3,700 was left and so he returned it.
Koron agreed to repay the money he had used and signed a declaration form to repay him by Jan 12 this year.
Koron then went into hiding but was later arrested and charged by police.